Vets for Pets South Shields

23/10/2026

Meet the team Fridays 👩‍⚕️

REBECCA- REGISTERED VET NURSE

“Hi, I’m Rebecca and I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse. I first started my journey into the veterinary world in 2021 after leaving school. I’ve always had a huge love for animals as they bring me a sense of calm and comfort like nothing else, which is one of the reasons I knew a career working with animals was right for me.

Outside of work, I love nothing more than getting cosy with a good book under a heated blanket, usually with my old Cockapoo, Oscar, by my side! Oscar is a very important part of my life and definitely keeps me company during my cosy days at home”.

20/10/2026

‼️WE CAN ONLY SEE EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS TODAY ‼️
Our computer systems are all down until the new one is installed. We are unable to access records, dispense medication or make appointments. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to be up and running by tomorrow morning. Thank you ☺️

19/10/2026

Primrose, the greyhound, was seen at the practice after one of her dew claws had snapped off on a walk.

Nails that become broken in animals can bleed quite a lot and can give you quite a shock as the owner.

Her family brought her to the practice where she could be treated and bandaged and pain relief provided!

If your dog snaps their nail, provide pressure or a clean cover over the area and call the practice ASAP! 🐾

19/10/2026

‼️WE WILL HAVE NO ACCESS TO OUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS TOMORROW (TUESDAY)‼️ please try to refrain from contacting the practice unless you have an emergergency. We hope to be up and running by late afternoon. Please be patient with the team, we may be a little slower whilst learning to navigate a new system 🥰 Thank you for your patience ☺️

‼️‼️‼️IMPORTANT INFORMATION‼️‼️‼️
We are having to update our computer systems, please be patient.
On Tuesday the 20th October, we are having a new system installed, this means we won't have any routine appointments available this day but will be on hand for emergencys. If you can, please avoid contacting the practice on the 20th or coming in to collect medication/food or flea & worming treatments. The team will be working hard to get everything up and running and hope to cause minimal disruption.
Please be patient with our colleagues as we navigate such a big change. Thank you for your understanding. 🥰😁

16/10/2026

Meet the team Fridays 👩‍⚕️

ANIA- VET SURGEON

“I am from Poland but I obtained British citizenship this year. I graduated from The Agricultural University of Wroclaw in Poland in 2002 then I started my work for VetsforPets in 2020.
I like to treat animals, it has always been my dream job. Cats, dogs and quinea pigs have always been my best friends.
I like mostly all aspects of veterinary medicine, but I have a special interest in cardiology. I would like to continue developing in this field.
My hobby is reading books - crime stories and fiction. I am a big fan of countryside walking. I spend my weekends organizing trips with my husband around Northumberland , North Pennine or Yorkshire.
My best friend is my cat Minush. I have also two noisy budgies- Fernando and Skye.”

12/10/2026

‼️‼️‼️IMPORTANT INFORMATION‼️‼️‼️
We are having to update our computer systems, please be patient.
On Tuesday the 20th October, we are having a new system installed, this means we won't have any routine appointments available this day but will be on hand for emergencys. If you can, please avoid contacting the practice on the 20th or coming in to collect medication/food or flea & worming treatments. The team will be working hard to get everything up and running and hope to cause minimal disruption.
Please be patient with our colleagues as we navigate such a big change. Thank you for your understanding. 🥰😁

09/10/2026

Meet the team Fridays! 🧑‍⚕️

JIA- VET SURGEON

“I’m originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2024.

Being part of the team here allows me to make a meaningful difference in the lives of pets and their families.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about music and nature. I also enjoy travelling, immersing myself in different cultures, and discovering new cuisines.”

09/10/2026

Lilith, the beautiful Maine c**n, is only 18 weeks old and our team have had the pleasure of meeting her twice now.

She first came in for her new kitten health check with our vet Kirstin and was back in yesterday for a bodyweight check with our nurse Rebecca for her flea and worming treatment!

She’s the softest girl ever! 🐱

02/10/2026

Meet the team Fridays! 👩‍⚕️

KIRSTIN - VET & PRACTICE OWNER

“I’m originally from Inverness and graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2013. I moved to the North East in 2014 and joined Vets4Pets in 2017.

Surgery is my passion, both soft tissue and orthopaedic, and I've completed my CertAVP to develop this further. I also love teaching surgery and passing on my enthusiasm to others.

I'm proud to be Head Vet and co-owner of the practice alongside Tammie and Kay, working with a wonderful, experienced team with a wide range of interests.

At home, I have two cocker spaniels-Nero and Elmo and Pablo, my Connemara pony. My weekends are spent hacking with the whole gang or at competitions where Pablo and I event while the dogs cheer us on! I'm a keen DIYer, always with a project on the go including anything from leatherwork to joinery or paving. When it's time to relax, nothing beats a walk on the beach or afternoon tea with friends, both the two- and four-legged kind!”

01/10/2026

Imagine being this small and cute!

Beau is a 8 week old chihuahua x who was seen by our vet Ania today for her 1st vaccination and flea and worming treatment.

Her owner has been coming to our practice for a while with their previous dogs so Beau has some pretty big boots to fill, which we are sure she will be able to since she is so adorable! 🐾

25/02/2024

When Kelly from our Colton store's Pets Grooming salon discovered a lump on the tail of nine-year-old Rufus she suspected something wasn't right, so alerted his owners Les and Andrea so they could get it checked out. They brought him to Vets for Pets Leeds Colton where it was confirmed he had a cancerous tumour which needed surgery.

Les, who adopted Rufus from Dogs Trust in Leeds as a puppy, said: “Rufus is such a big part of our life; we’re absolutely besotted with him. We probably wouldn’t have noticed the lump if not at the groomers as the tail isn’t somewhere you would usually stroke and feel. Kelly loves Rufus and really looks after him, so we want to say a big thanks for spotting it. Who'd have known what would have happened if she hadn’t noticed.”

Rufus had to have his tail removed, but is now making a good recovery. He's been visiting Kelly for a groom every six weeks for the last three years. She said: “You get to know everything about a dog as you groom them. I’ve discovered similar things before on other dogs so I mentioned it to the owners so they could get it checked out. Dogs are my life and you do worry; I’m so pleased they caught it. Now he’s got a fully docked tail like a little bunny rabbit. It’s lovely and suits him – when he gets washed he wiggles his bum.”

21/02/2024

Arthur's owner Louise says he "looked like a brand-new tortoise" after having his beak filed at Sutton in Ashfield Vets4Pets.

Louise adopted the four-year-old Horsefield Tortoise from a family member in October. Although she has had other pets, Arthur is her first tortoise, so she has been doing some research on how to best care for him.

Louise said: "I noticed Arthur's beak was unusually long, so I brought him in to Vets for Pets; I bring all my pets there. When he came out, I thought 'you beautiful boy, look at you – you look so handsome!"

Vet Steph, who looked after Arthur, says that tortoise beaks continuously grow and normally grind down themselves while they're eating. She said: "Arthur needed a little help as his jaw isn't perfectly aligned; his lower jaw is further out than his top jaw, so I filed it around half a centimetre. He was really good; a real cutie."

18/02/2024

Owner Claire says she couldn't be more grateful to Vets4Pets Hamilton after their quick diagnosis saved the sight of six-year-old Alba.

Claire knew there was something terribly wrong with her miniature dachshund cross when she called her in from the back garden last summer and Alba ran headfirst into a closed patio door. She rushed her to the vets, where investigations led the team to diagnose her with uveitis – an eye condition which causes inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.

Claire said: "It all happened so suddenly; Alba must have heard my voice and guessed where to go. It was quite scary seeing how bad she was. We couldn't be more grateful for the team in Hamilton spotting the uveitis as quickly as they did, otherwise Alba would have gone blind within a matter of days. Their knowledge saved Alba's sight. I still can't believe it happened. It's taken months of treatments, but it's such a relief to have our girl back to being her funny, bossy self."

Vet Neil, one of the team who treated Alba, said: "Alba's pupil was really narrow and wouldn't respond to light properly, which can be a sign of uveitis. Once we had ruled out other conditions, we were able to get her to an eye specialist for ongoing treatment. She's now doing really well."

16/02/2024

Ducky's owner Antonia was in a state of panic when she saw a fox had dug its way into the field where she keeps him – killing two of her other ducks and chickens.

Antonia was about to move her brood into their pen for the evening when she saw what had happened and noticed that Ducky had severe bite wounds under his wing. She rushed him to Vets4Pets Vets Milton Keynes for emergency surgery – and after having his wound stitched up the one-year-old duck is now making a good recovery.

Antonia said: "I was so worried. You don’t often hear of ducks recovering from fox attacks, but there is something about Ducky and the way he was so brave. I'm sure he was protecting a lady duck, as he's a bit of a romantic. It's the first time we've gone to Vets for Pets, and the team were amazing; they've done an incredible job."

Vet Becca, who treated Ducky, said: "He's a really lucky duck, as it was quite a big wound. When he first came in, he was understandably subdued and quiet but when he came back for his stitches to be taken out, he wanted to explore and tuck his head into everyone’s shoulders."

07/02/2024

Well done to the team at Vets4Pets Guildford who've been awarded a silver level certificate for being a rabbit-friendly clinic.

After head veterinary nurse Ella noticed that more customers were bringing in rabbits the practice took a series of steps to give them as stress-free an experience as possible. Ella, who also fosters rescue dogs in her spare time, said: "There was a long list of things that we needed to prove that we did from making sure the rabbits are kept separate from other animals and not booked in at the same time as barking dogs, to providing heated kennels for those who need to stay in, and using special equipment made especially for rabbits."

Practice manager Kevin said: "All of our vets have plenty of experience with rabbits we have some real rabbit geeks here, so it was a big thing to us. There are so many good people in this world and I'm so proud to be around them."

28/01/2024

Beautiful Bear was born deaf, so he's learned to follow his owner Lisa's visual commands.

Lisa, who shops at our Tamworth store – "it's my second home!" – got two-year-old Bear as a kitten and suspected he was deaf when he didn't respond to her voice. She had it confirmed by her vet soon after. She said: "He was very scatty, and scared of people he didn’t recognise. He wasn’t bothered by loud noises like my other cat Emily and when I came home from work he wouldn’t hear the door open.

"He's doing really well though. I try to do some sign language with him – I point at him and do a solid hand sign at him to stop. He picks up on vibrations and scents too. He meows, making a really loud chirping sound which I’ve never heard a cat do before, and he’s always rubbing his head against my legs and following me everywhere. I was advised not to let him out because he wouldn’t hear cars or other dangers, so he comes outside with me every morning to have a sniff around the garden and always comes straight back in." Bear and Lisa's other cat Emily are on Instagram as

27/01/2024

Ten-year-old Dutch rabbit Alfie has been visiting vet Kate at Vets4pets Wolverhampton for dental treatment for the last eight years – and she says he's such a loveable character that he's become "part of the family".

He's one of the oldest rabbits treated by Kate and the team, and she says his longevity is down to the care and love he gets from his owner Tracy and her family. Kate said: "Alfie is famous in this practice – everyone knows him. We and his family are dedicated to making sure her little old man is happy. The beautiful thing about being a vet or vet nurse is you build these relationships with the owners and their pets – they become your surrogate pets."

Tracy's been keeping rabbits all her life, and says that having space and routine is key. She said: "Alfie is an old man now and has a routine. He goes into a hutch at night and is let out in the morning. He's out all day and has his favourite spots in the house. We clean him out every day and give him a lot of attention. When he was younger he would follow us around; if I was clearing a cupboard out he would be in the cupboard to help. Now he's old and wants to be warm and watch instead. I can't thank Kate and the practice enough. Kate's been fantastic with him."

26/01/2024

Eight-year-old Winnie the Schnauzer cross is running around like a puppy again thanks to laser treatment and physiotherapy after two successful knee operations at Vets for Pets Basildon.

Worried owner Tracy brought Winnie in to the practice after she collapsed on a walk last year – and the team discovered the cruciate ligament in a knee had ruptured. She’s since had ops on two knees and is on a recovery plan led by vet physiotherapist Izzy.

Tracy said: "Winnie has had a tough year with 15 teeth removed, two cruciate ligament operations and two bouts of pancreatitis but thankfully she's hardy. She’s treated fabulously at the Basildon practice. Izzy is great with her – she totally relaxes in her hands and does little snores with her eyes open. Winnie has a new lease of life again and is running around like a puppy."

Izzy said: "When pets have surgery or injure themselves they move differently which causes them to be sore in other places. Winnie has laser therapy then a massage to help the healing process. Laser treatment is a specialist service that not enough people know about – it can help in so many ways after an operation.”

19/01/2024

The team at Vets4Pets Cramlington say greyhound Frank was "an absolute gentleman" when he came in for some dental work.

Seven-year-old Frank was brought in by owner Harriet to get rid of some plaque which had built up and to treat a gum inflammation. Veterinary nurse Vicki said: "Frank was a very good boy and left with clean, fresh and sparkly teeth. It's so very important to get your dog's teeth checked and we advise pets to have an annual dental check. Eighty per cent of dogs over the age of three have dental disease. Prevention is much better than cure and regular checks and routine cleaning keep your pet's mouth healthier for longer and can help to prevent extensive extractions later in life. We are always happy to offer advice on maintenance and dental care at home such as teeth brushing or dental supplements."

18/01/2024

Veterinary nurse Mel from Vets4Pets Bristol Longwell Green loves cats so much she's helped the practice make a number of improvements to give cats as stress-free an experience as possible when they're brought in.

Mel, who has an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour for Veterinary Professionals, helped introduce facilities like a separate feline waiting area and cattery and the use of quiet clippers – and the practice now has a silver level certificate for being a cat-friendly clinic. She said: "I love dogs but I'm really a cat person. Cats can be misunderstood which can lead to them having quite a stressful life, so if we can make things easier for them and help people understand what cats need then everyone will be happier.

"As animal lovers there's always more to learn and understand about what makes them happy. Enrichment at the home is important for a happy cat – and as cats are naturally solitary animals if you live in a multi-cat household it's important to understand what they need. The rule is to have a resource per cat, plus one spare. So if you have two cats you should have three feeding stations, three litter trays and three scratch posts spread around the house so they have the opportunity to move around to wherever they want to go. Scratching is as natural a thing for cats to do as going out hunting is, so if they're unable to go out it's about providing the chance for them to behave as naturally as possible."